I read drift a few months ago I was a little iffy but I'm glad I didIt was great one of the best books so far in 2014 I'm happyI did all I got to say is Michael dean did not disappoint at all I loved itEvery twist and turn it was great love it all would I recommend this book series yes I would

Young Adult Fiction is not a genre I typically choose to read, but as this book was recommended by a friend I figured I would give it a go.The five star review should be more like a 4.5, yet I refuse to drop it to a 4 so a 5 it is!

I found it to be a smooth read although a little slow at a few points, which can be common in most books as the author is developing the plot and characters. For a new author, this was done quite well, so credit is definitely due. The slow downs were few and far between, yet were immediately replaced with fast paced action or high emotional drama which kept me involved in the story. There were definitely quite a few times I was on the edge of my seat and fully engaged! I tend to read fast so this was a fun and smooth read for me, definitely an enjoyable distraction from the day to day!

There is certainly a "guy-ish" element to the book, mainly within the interactions of Leo and his guy friend Mark, which would serve to interest young male readers, yet there is a tenderness and sweetness between Leo and Shade which will certainly be enjoyable for female readers as well.

I found the descriptions to be very well written, character and plot as well as landscape. Michael paints a picture very well with his words and I wasn't having to struggle to build the scene and the unfolding of events in my mind as I was reading. It was all very clear and easy to envision.

The plot twists were unexpected (as they should be!) and surprising as well as intense! The last few chapters flowed really quickly which kept me fully engaged, and the cliffhanger at the end, WOW! I wanted to immediately pick up book 2 as soon as I had finished the last page! Bring on book 2!!

This was well worth the wait Michael Dean! I would recommend this book for adults and teens and since I finished it in two days and let me say I am a speed reader when it comes to series I love and so my 17yo daughter is reading it and of course she wants to take my kindle or my nook to school with her to read it! So I defiantly give it give stars and now I want the next!

My daughter ask me to read this, and give her my review of it. I think Michael Dean has done a very good book. I have read that this is his first book, and I must say he did a very good job. I will be reading the next in the series, so I can find out what happens next... I would definitely recommend this author, and series to anyone who asked of a good YA author...

More of a 3.5-4 star rating. I liked it mostly but some areas gave me a few problems, though for a first book it was well done and I will be getting the next one. The story line itself was absorbing and I found the characters developed at a decent pace throughout the book, but some of the conversations between the characters was stilted and didn't really read well. The first part of the book has two teenage boys constantly shaking hands when they part company which is not the normal interaction between two high school friends and doesn't add to the scenes, just adds words. There are areas in the book that tend to drag some and descriptions of locations etc.. are overly done so it tends to bog in those areas. There are some typos, words out of sequence, and misuse of words, But all that aside the story was entertaining and will have me looking at the next ones to see how Michael Dean develops as an author and where the story goes. I feel also that it should be pointed out that the things that were wrong with the book are things that should have been found through either the author's beta/proof readers or through the editing process since it is their job to let an author know where the story has issues and where the typos etc.. are. Overall I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys YA or paranormal genres.

More About the Author

Michael Dean was born in Mountain View California in 1976, raised in Tucson Arizona, and now resides just outside of Dallas Texas.

Michael's adventurous style has led him to start and run a successful small business for the past ten years, as well as writing YA novels and playing music. His passion for music and the pen collided when he was younger, causing him to pick up a guitar and write his own music. That drive led him to starting his own band, getting it played on regional radio stations, even competing in Ozzy Osbourne's battle for Ozzfest in New York City.

Still just as driven, now he prefers quieter days to himself, thus giving him time to improve on his main passion, writing. Drift, a YA paranormal fantasy, is a bi-product of that alone time. He hopes that when a reader picks up his works, he or she will love it just as much as he did writing it.